Brachytherapy devices and related methods and computer program products

Abstract

A low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy device having a spatiotemporal radiation profile includes an elongated body having a radioactive material in a spatial pattern to provide a spatial radiation profile with a radiation intensity that varies along a length of the elongated body. The radioactive material includes at least first and second radioisotopes having at least first and second respective decay profiles that together provide a temporal radiation profile that is different from the first and second decay profiles. The spatial radiation profile and the temporal radiation profile form a net spatiotemporal radiation profile configured to provide a radiotherapy plan for a patient.

That which is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of forming a low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy device, the method comprising:
 providing a substrate having a micropattern thereon, the micropattern including a plurality of spaced-apart wells; 
 depositing a radioactive material with a micro-syringe pump and/or micropipette in at least some of the plurality of wells to provide a radiation profile; and 
 forming a medical device from the substrate and radioactive material 
 wherein depositing the radioactive material comprises depositing a plurality of spaced-apart globules of the radioactive materials having a density of two or more globules per 5 mm and respective volumes for each of the spaced-apart globules of the radioactive material are between 5 and 500 nanoliters. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the radioactive material is uniformly dispersed at a molecular level. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the radioactive material comprises one or more of Pd-103, I-125, Cs-131 and P-32. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising coating the device with a biocompatible coating. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the spaced-apart globules are adhered to the substrate. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises an elongated body. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the elongated body comprises a suture. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the micro-syringe pump and/or micropipette are controlled by a processor. 
     
     
       9. A method of forming a low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy device, the method comprising:
 providing a substrate having a micropattern thereon, the micropattern including a plurality of spaced-apart wells; and 
 depositing a radioactive material in at least some of the plurality of wells to provide a radiation profile, wherein depositing the radioactive material comprises depositing a plurality of spaced-apart globules of the radioactive materials having a density of two or more globules per 5 mm and wherein the density of the spaced-apart globules of radioactive material is 20 or more globules per 5 mm. 
 
     
     
       10. A method of forming a LDR brachytherapy device, the method comprising:
 determining a radiation profile for the brachytherapy device; 
 depositing predetermined volume of a radioactive material in a pattern on the device with a micro-syringe pump and/or micropipette, the radioactive material including a molecularly dispersed radioisotope, the pattern comprising a plurality of spaced-apart, discrete globules, each globule having a respective volume of the radioactive material, the volume of each of the globules being controlled by the micro-syringe pump and/or micropipette, the globules having a density of two or more globules per 5 mm and respective volumes for each of the spaced-apart globules of the radioactive material are between 5 and 500 nanoliters. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising determining the respective volumes for each of the plurality of globules to provide the radiation profile. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising determining a distance between each of the plurality of globules to provide the radiation pattern. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising depositing the respective volumes of the globules so that a deposited volume is within 10% of a predetermined amount. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising depositing a biocompatible, nondegradable polymeric coating layer on the device. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising patterning the coating layer to enhance ultrasound visibility. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 10 , wherein depositing the radioactive material comprises depositing the plurality of spaced-apart globules at a density of two or more globules per 5 mm. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the device is planar. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the device is an elongated body. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the device comprises a plurality of microwells, and the radioactive material is deposited in at least some of the microwells. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the micro-syringe pump and/or micropipette are controlled by a processor. 
     
     
       21. A method of forming a LDR brachytherapy device, the method comprising:
 determining a radiation profile for the brachytherapy device; 
 depositing a radioactive material in a pattern on the device, the radioactive material including a molecularly dispersed radioisotope, the pattern comprising a plurality of spaced-apart, discrete globules, each globule having a respective volume of the radioactive material, wherein respective volumes for each of the globules are between 5 and 500 nanoliters. 
 
     
     
       22. A method of forming a LDR brachytherapy device, the method comprising:
 determining a radiation profile for the brachytherapy device; 
 depositing a radioactive material in a pattern on the device, the radioactive material including a molecularly dispersed radioisotope, the pattern comprising a plurality of spaced-apart, discrete globules, each globule having a respective volume of the radioactive material, wherein depositing the radioactive material comprises depositing the plurality of spaced-apart globules at a density of 20 or more globules per 5 mm.